BRITAIN’S disastrous welfare system is further exposed by figures revealing that a city with one of the highest unemployment rates has 7,000 unfilled job vacancies.

The figures prompted fresh demands for welfare reforms to ensure jobseekers are forced to take unfilled posts rather than stay at home raking in benefits.

With a population of 256,000, Hull has one of the UK’s highest unemployment rates. Some 8.3 per cent of adults are claiming jobseekers’ allowance, more than double the national average of 3.8 per cent.

The city’s Jobcentre Plus says it currently has 2,000 jobs on its books of which 70 per cent are full-time.

But with estimates suggesting just 30 per cent of vacancies are advertised through the Government-run outlets, the true figure of available posts is thought to be around 7,000.

Jobs on offer range from a Father Christmas on £8.45 an hour and electrician on £13 an hour to a driving instructor on £19 an hour and a £40,000-a-year primary school deputy head.

People sometimes come into our offices and say there are no jobs out there but it is simply not true

Stuart Griffiths, Hull district manager for the Department for Work and Pensions

Another vacancy is assistant manager at Boots on above minimum wage salary as well as Army jobs in communications, engineering, carpentry and joinery, intelligence and driving on an annual salary of £17,514

Last night Robert Oxley, campaign manager of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “It is ludicrous that we are paying out so much in jobseekers’ allowance when there are jobs out there waiting to be filled.

“The welfare system has long needed reform so that it both equips people for work and ensures they take the jobs on offer.

“With money tight we can’t afford for people to remain out of employment. It is vital that the welfare system ensures that work pays and that dodging it does not.”

Stuart Griffiths, Hull district manager for the Department for Work and Pensions, said unemployed people had a misconception that there were no jobs on offer.

He said: “It is a myth that there are no jobs out there.

“People sometimes come into our offices and say there are no jobs out there but it is simply not true.

“These might not be the jobs of people’s dreams – we accept not everyone wants to be a carer or a butcher, for example. We all want to create and attract new jobs into the city, and we all want the jobs from large companies.

“But what we are saying is, if people want to train to work in renewables, for example, why not take a job now and earn money so you can train towards the career you want?”

Youth unemployment in Hull is a particular issue of concern, with 5,000 aged 18 to 24 currently claiming jobseekers’ allowance. Another 700 aged 16 to 18 are not in education, employment or training.

Feedback from some employers claims young people are entering the workplace or turning up for interviews without the right work ethic or a lack of motivation.

But many young people say they are caught in a Catch 22 situation in which they cannot get the necessary job experience.

Alan Johnson, Labour MP for Hull West and Hessle, said everyone needed to play a part in creating prosperity and opportunities, and called on employers to do more.

He said: “While nobody would argue these are difficult times, there is a churn of jobs in the city.

“Adults with experience in a certain area could maybe look at doing something else and, if they want to retrain in areas such as renewables, then great.

“However, 18 to 24-year- olds are getting left out. They cannot get experience as they haven’t got a job, yet they can’t get a job through lack of experience.

“Instead of economic despair, we want more jobs in Hull and are working to bring more jobs to the city.

“But the message for employers is there are young people out there who can do the job, so instead of getting agency staff in, give local young people a chance.”